NETBALL will be a professional sport in South Africa from April 2013, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said.
The news elicited huge applause at the Heartfelt Centre in Pretoria at the launch of the four-day Diamond Challenge that started yesterday.
"Our plans for netball are big," said Mbalula, who had rushed to the venue after greeting Team SA at the airport on their return from the London Olympics.
"This Diamond Challenge is the centrepiece, but next year in April - just to give you a bite of the cherry - we are going professional.
"There is not going to be any girl playing netball for free or part-time. Two million players will be on the payroll and they will play netball week in, week out. Netball will be faster, better and (more) beautiful."
Mbalula called on investors to get involved.
"Those doomsayers who don't believe in this, we still call on them and say 'invest in this because you're investing in the future of the country'.
"If you invest in a woman, you are breaking the cycle of poverty and this is what it's about. Two million girls on the payroll is a way of fighting poverty and unemployment." In the Diamond Challenge, which was Mbalula's own initiative, the Spar Proteas compete against continental rivals Malawi, Botswana and Zambia, starting yesterday.
The minister found time to take a dig at the country's rivals when welcoming them to South Africa.
"Botswana, did you get an Olympic medal? Oh yes, just a silver one," he joked.
"I'm not sure about Malawi and Zambia, but don't worry, we represented the continent, so it's okay.
"It's going to be a fantastic display of talent and may the events starting this week inspire netball to greater heights, not only in SA but on the continent. Everyone who looks down on netball, their minds and hearts will change this weekend."
On receiving the news that the sport will turn professional, national coach Elize Kotze was overwhelmed.
"It is the happiest day of my life," said the stunned Kotze. "We'd heard rumours, but now I've heard it from the minister himself. We will hold him to it, so there is no going back now."
The sport has struggled to get bigger sponsorships in the past.
Netball turns pro
NETBALL will be a professional sport in South Africa from April 2013, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said.
The news elicited huge applause at the Heartfelt Centre in Pretoria at the launch of the four-day Diamond Challenge that started yesterday.
"Our plans for netball are big," said Mbalula, who had rushed to the venue after greeting Team SA at the airport on their return from the London Olympics.
"This Diamond Challenge is the centrepiece, but next year in April - just to give you a bite of the cherry - we are going professional.
"There is not going to be any girl playing netball for free or part-time. Two million players will be on the payroll and they will play netball week in, week out. Netball will be faster, better and (more) beautiful."
Mbalula called on investors to get involved.
"Those doomsayers who don't believe in this, we still call on them and say 'invest in this because you're investing in the future of the country'.
"If you invest in a woman, you are breaking the cycle of poverty and this is what it's about. Two million girls on the payroll is a way of fighting poverty and unemployment." In the Diamond Challenge, which was Mbalula's own initiative, the Spar Proteas compete against continental rivals Malawi, Botswana and Zambia, starting yesterday.
The minister found time to take a dig at the country's rivals when welcoming them to South Africa.
"Botswana, did you get an Olympic medal? Oh yes, just a silver one," he joked.
"I'm not sure about Malawi and Zambia, but don't worry, we represented the continent, so it's okay.
"It's going to be a fantastic display of talent and may the events starting this week inspire netball to greater heights, not only in SA but on the continent. Everyone who looks down on netball, their minds and hearts will change this weekend."
On receiving the news that the sport will turn professional, national coach Elize Kotze was overwhelmed.
"It is the happiest day of my life," said the stunned Kotze. "We'd heard rumours, but now I've heard it from the minister himself. We will hold him to it, so there is no going back now."
The sport has struggled to get bigger sponsorships in the past.
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